Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Mandalay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mandalay or Guilin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Guilin, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mandalay or Guilin?
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesGuilin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Guilin $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $89. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Mandalay and Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Guilin $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Guilin $74
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Guilin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Guilin $6.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $180
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $180
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Guilin Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $55
- Guilin Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Guilin Private Transfer (English-speaking) Between Guilin Hotels & Yangshuo: $93
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Airport to Hotel Roundtrip: $99
- Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $18
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $40
- Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $58
- Haikou Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Jieyang Chaoshan Airport Private airport transfer Service: $20
- One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $17
- Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin and Mandalay change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMandalay $10Guilin $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Wukong Guilin Neighborhood Food Tour: $65
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandalay -Guilin $30
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour: $45
- Mandalay Bike 'n Bite Tour: $45
- U Bein Bridge Sunset Cycling Day Tour from Mandalay: $60
- Adventure to Dee Dote Waterfalls from Mandalay: $63
- Mandalay Half-Day Sightseeing: $65
- Ancient City Tour in Mandalay: $70
- Mandalay Half-Day Tour: $70
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing: $75
- Private Tour for Amarapura, Mingun, Sagaing and Inwa (AVA): $77
- Private Pyin Oo Lwin Day Return Tour: $80
- Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$18
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guilin English tour guide service: $15
- City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting: $46
- Guilin One Day Tour of Longjie Mountain: $46
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide(beginner friendly): $51
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- 1-Day tour of Guilin-LiRiver cruise-Yangshuo Xianggong hill: $58
- GUILIN:kayaking adventure with local guide: $60
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $60
- 1 day private tour: Longji rice terraces & Huang Luo Yao villages: $69
- Longji Rice Terraces with Minority Village Private Day Tour: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Guilin $6.12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Guilin, we can see that Guilin is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Guilin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guilin than you might in Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandalay Expensive? and Is Guilin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Guilin?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 86% larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay and Guilin, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.